All the latest news from the U23s & U18s from Kirkby…

Cameron Brannagan Signs New Two-Year Contract With Liverpool

By Scott Taylor
Cameron Brannagan has signed a new contract with Premier League side Liverpool. The U21s captain, 19, has been at the club since he was at U9 level and made his first team debut against Bordeaux this season. The midfielder has penned a new two-year deal with an option of a further year.
Brannagan is an attacking midfielder that is best suited to the number ten role. He is highly regarded at the club’s Academy and was made captain of Michael Beale’s U21s. After a couple of tough seasons in the U18s, he thrived after being played in an advanced position, and hasnt looked back since. In the 2014-15 season, he was named on the bench for the first team on four occasions and included in the Liverpool squad in their Europa League tie against Besiktas.
He made his debut for the U18s as a 15-year-old, which came in March 2012 in a 4-3 defeat to West Bromwich Albion. However, in the 2012-13 season, he became an important part of Steve Cooper’s set-up. Although he often came on as a sub or played as a defensive midfielder, he made 18 appearances, finding the net once. After the departure of Cooper, Mike Garrity was appointed as coach and started to play Brannagan in his natural position. As a result, he impressed and then made his U21s debut shortly after.
In his first full season with the U21s, in 2013-14, he played 19 games, scoring four goals, including his first against Manchester City in September 2013. He was made captain at the start of the 2015-16 season when Lloyd Jones was sent on loan to Blackpool. Brannagan was previously linked with a loan spell to Oldham, but international duty prevented the move from happening.
In September 2015, Brannagan made his long awaited first team debut, as he came on as an 80th minute substitute in Liverpool’s 1-1 draw against Bordeaux. His latest deal sees his contract expire in June 2018, and he is looking to establish himself as a first-team regular for Jurgen Klopp’s in the near future.